Rail bender



, Feb. 25', 1941. 1 PAVELKA 2,232,724

RAIL BENDER Filed June 11, 19s? Patented Feb. 25, 1941 UNITEDV STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The-invention comprises a rail bender and consists in novel frame structure and novel thrust mechanism and the manner of mounting the same in the frame.

One object of the invention is to obtain a strong compact frame which is readily portable and light in weight and particularly adapted for use in and around mine track installations.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the thrust mechanism mounting particularly so that a standard form of anti-friction thrust bearing may be used without special machine work on the same.

Another object of the invention is to distribute the thrusts of the rail to suitably braced portions of the frame irrespective of the angle or curvature of the rail, and it is a further object of the invention to secure the rail between jawfaces at the ends of the frame so arranged as to avoid a tendency of the bending of the rail to break the jaws.

'I'hese and other detailed objects of the invention which will be apparent from the description below are attained by the structures shown in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is in part a top View and ln part a longitudinal section through a rail bender embodying the invention and showing in full lines a straight rail and in broken lines a bent rail.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the rail bender.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail section corresponding to a portion of Figure 1 but illustrating a modication.

The bender comprises essentially a frame I and a thrust mechanism including a nut structure 2 and a screw 3. The frame is of triangular trusslike formation including a front member 4 and rear members 5 converging towards each other from the ends of member 4 and merging at the rear of the device and there forming a boss 6 journaling screw 3 and including a seat 'I for an anti-friction thrust bearing 8 mounted in nut 2. The interconnected ends of members 5 and 4 are provided with jaws 9 for receiving the head of a rail R. 'Ihe screw 3 is journaled in members 4 and 5 and is threaded into nut 2 and has a rail head receiving socket II at its forward end. Obviously rotation of nut 2 in a clockwise direction will force screw 3 outwardly from the solid line position shown in Figure 1 to the broken line position, thereby bending the rail as indicated.

Preferably members 4 and 5 are formed in part by a web I2` disposed in the plane of the line of thrust of the device and having a central aperture for receiving the nut and screw, there being a continuous peripheral flange I3 at the outer edge of web I2. This flange merges with jaws 9 5 and the pressure of the rail against either the inner or outer faces of jaws Ilr is transmitted di- Arectly to the flange elements which reinforce web although being positioned exteriorly of the frame is in substantial alignment'with jaws 9.

Preferably the frame is cast as a single unit and is made of aluminum or similar light weight material. The entire device may be readily carried by a single workman and the truss-like formation of the frame enables the structure to 25 be made so compactly that its extent, and weight, is minimized. This feature of the frame structure, together with the winged nut enabling the operating lever to be applied at various angles about the nut, provides for operation of the de- 30 vice in close quarters such, for example, as in mine tunnels where larger devices with the ordinary screw jack operating mechanism could not be operated.

The nut and thrust bearing arrangement is 35 such that it is impossible for the nut and bearing to exert thrusts in opposite directions against the forward and rear members of the frame and thereby strain the latter.

Previously it has been proposed to provide the 40 nut with a circular boss extending the full length of the nut and mounting a roller bearing unit surrounding the boss. This arrangement called for a special bearing, the necessity for which has been eliminated by recessing the nut, as indicated at I 1, to receive the thrust bearing, making it possible to use a standard bearing and a screw of suitable diameter.

The inner periphery of bearing 8 is of larger 50 and the screw will be held against accidental movement out of boss 6.

It may be desired to avoid the opening in the rear face of the frame which accommodates the extreme end of the screw in the position shown in Figure 1. Such opening facilitates the assembly of the screw and collar but is not necessary for the operation of the screw if the latter is shortened somewhat. If this opening is eliminated, the parts may be assembled by first inserting the collar I8 into the boss opening from the inner end of the latter and then inserting the screw into the boss and collar and moving the screw and collar until the pin hole in the collar is abreast of the hole 2| in the boss, whereupon the pin 20 may be inserted through hole 2| into the collar and screw.

Figure 4 illustrates a modification in which the frame 25 is provided with a pocket 26 for receiving and seating the anti-friction thrust bearing 21 so that the latter barely projects beyond the surface 28. The nut 29 and screw 30 are constructed and function as the corresponding parts of the structure previously described except that the nut does not include the pocket for housing the thrust bearing. 'I'his arrangement makes possible a shallower nut and frame and simplifies the nut construction.

While the above descriptions are explicit as to some of the preferred details of the structure, it will be understood that these details are not essential to all embodiments of the invention.

`side of said unit, and a removable collar surrounding said screw end and secured thereto and disposed to engage the inner face of said nut to prevent accidental withdrawal of said screw from said boss.

2. In a rail bender, a frame including a portion having an aperture extending transversely of the frame, a thrust screw received in said aperture with one end projecting from the frame, an anti-friction thrust bearing unit surrounding said screw with one side bearing against an end of said frame portion, a nut threaded on said screw and bearing against the opposite side of said unit,

and a collar surrounding a part of said screw in said Yaperture and secured thereto and disposed to engage the inner face of said nut as said screw is moved outwardly of said frame by the rotation i of said nut and thereby prevent accidental removal of said screw from said frame.

JOSEPH PAVELKA. 

